How Much
Does it Weigh?
Written by Jane Buxton
Illustrations by Madeline Beasley
The Story
Children compare
the weights of a toy
truck, car and digger
with the weight of
blocks. A kitten
weighs itself and
causes an overload.
Introduction
• Put a selection of objects of different sizes and weights on the floor.
Each child selects two objects, but before the child picks them up ask,
Which one do you think is heavier?
The child then picks up the objects, one in each hand, and compares
them. Did they guess correctly?
• Make a balance beam on a fulcrum. Demonstrate how to compare the
weights of two objects. Discuss which is lighter and which is heavier.
• Introduce the story. Discuss each illustration and introduce the
concepts the same as, too heavy.
What would happen to the balance if it was too light?
Read the story together.
• Children work in pairs. Each partner collects an object from around
the classroom. Children look at the two objects and say which one they
think is heavier. Children pick up both objects to see if their guesses
were reasonable.
• Place the objects in two groups. Children repeat this activity choosing
different objects.
• Introduce and demonstrate simple balance scales.
What does it mean when the scales are even?
When they go down at one end? When they go up at one end?
Follow-up Activities
Balance Bar
Use the balance bar and some objects of different weights and
sizes. Children weigh the objects and draw the scales each time.
Process
• Estimating
• Seeking a
solution via
repeated use of a
non-standard unit
28
Which is the Heaviest?
Provide the children with three identical boxes such as milk cartons
filled with three different amounts of sand and stapled shut. Children
compare the weights by picking up the boxes.
Which is the heaviest? Which is the lightest?
Which is Heavier?
Prepare an illustration of a balance bar. Place pictures from magazines of
objects on each side of the scales. Children discuss which object would
be heavier and why. Which end of the scales would go up?
© Wendy Pye Publishing Ltd 2011
Using the Online Activities
12
3
Activity 1 – How Much Does It Weigh?
Calculate how many blocks weigh the same as the objects on each end
of the seesaw.
As a follow-up, provide balance scales and a selection of groups of
three objects for the children to weigh and place on name cards from
lightest to heaviest.
Maths Concept
Estimating and
measuring weight
with non-standard
units
Maths Language
Activity 2 – Tree City
Help Number Cruncher get to the top of tree city by counting the
number of objects to reach each level.
Game – The Great Weighing Game
Children choose which of two items is heavier or lighter.
As a follow up, provide the children with a big empty box. A group of
children tries to lift the box.
How heavy is it? How do we lift heavy objects?
Investigate and discuss other ways of shifting heavy objects – on a mat,
pushing and dragging on rollers or rods. Provide a handcart for the
children to shift boxes, books and other children.
weigh
weighs
balances
heavy/light
heavier/lighter
heaviest/lightest
scales
Other Activities
Wet or Dry – Which is Heavier?
Provide the children with two dry sponges the same size. Weigh them
on the balance scales. Wet one of the sponges.
Will they still weigh the same?
Which is heavier, the dry one or the wet one?
Place the sponges on the balance scales to see.
Solid or Liquid – Which is Heavier?
Give the children some ice cubes to weigh. Put the cubes on one side
of the scales and find an item that weighs the same. Let the ice cubes
melt. Do the scales still balance?
Weigh with Clay
Children use a lump of play dough or clay to compare the weights of a
variety of objects – a pencil, book, drink bottle, tennis ball – adding and
taking away pieces of dough to make the scales balance.
© Wendy Pye Publishing Ltd 2011
29